Increasing the Resale Value of House
More than being a safe haven where you live, a house is also an investment which you can cash in on in the future should you ever choose to sell it. The higher the value of your house, the bigger a profit you are bound to make. If you are considering putting your house up on the market for sale, there are a number of things you can do to make sure it impresses potential buyers during viewings, and sells quickly for top dollar.
Making the most of your space
Homes that give an impression of small, cramped spaces rarely appeal to potential buyers. You might be more than happy with a family room that is crammed full of comfortable, over-stuffed couches, a kitchen that contains a family-sized dining table that seats 10, and the home office that is lined with shelves that are overflowing with books and files. However, none of these things will help you in increasing the re-sale value of your home.
Critically analyze the layout of your rooms and the way the furniture has been positioned – the key is to make each room appear wide open and spacious. Remove unnecessary articles of furniture, superfluous decorative items, and unneeded appliances. People should be able to move smoothly through the room without facing any obstructions, and you can use tricks like installing mirrors to make even the smallest of rooms and hallways appear wide and spacious. Remove, downsize, and rearrange, to increase the resale value of your home.
De-cluttering is essential
Clutter is the single thing that can turn buyers away from your home – it is essential to clear out your home and get rid of the junk that you are likely to have collected over the years. Store things you absolutely want to keep in neatly labeled cartons and boxes in the attic and basement. Drop off items at the recycling center, or organize a yard sale to dispose of all the things you don’t need and make a little bit of profit along the way.
Neutralize the decor
Taste in decor is a personal thing, and naturally varies from person to person. The ideal way to make sure the resale value of your home is high is to plan ahead – when you buy a home, decorate in a neutral palette, and ensure that there is a smooth color flow from one room to the next, which links all the rooms together and makes the house appear harmonious as a whole. If you’ve decorated using bold, dark colors, you might want to tone it down a bit, as not every potential home buyer will appreciate your style. If you are not careful, your décor choices may turn buyers away because they will be overwhelmed by all the money they will need to invest in redecorating.
Cleanliness is next to godliness
Cleanliness can draw potential home buyers in like a magnet, and is sure to leave a lasting impression on them. Dirty windows, messy bathrooms, and cluttered kitchens and bedrooms are bound to repel buyers, and bring the resale value of your home down significantly. Scrub the bathrooms until they shine, keep counter spaces in the kitchens clean, make sure all the beds are made and the closets are in order in your bedrooms, vacuum all the carpets and dust all the sofas in the living room.
Set the stage
Finally, add a couple of finishing touches to the house before a viewing. Put fresh flowers in vases, turn on all the lights (make sure there are no dim, flickering bulbs) bake cookies or make a fresh pot of coffee to make your home smell irresistible, and make sure you stay out of the house while the agent conducts viewings – go to a movie or on a walk, to ensure the potential buyers fall in love with the place and have no trouble imagining themselves living in it.
